Barrel steamer and drier



Jan. 5, 1932. F. c. WILLIAMS 1,839,628

BARREL STEAMER AND DRIER Filed Sept. ll, 1929 2 SheetsSheet lllll/llllllllflll, r11. 'Il

A TTORNEY.

Jan. 5, 1932. |=l C, wlLLlAMS 1,839,628

BARREL STEAMER AND DRIER Fld Sept. 1l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2||Illl|||||||||lIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII|||||||lllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITIIIIIIIII IK /l ATTRNEYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES FRANCIS C. WILLIAMS, 0F SANFRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA BARREL STEAMER AND DRIRE.

Application led September 11, 1929. Serial No. 891,956.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates toa steaming and drying apparatus and particularly an apparatus fortreating barrels before and after 5 the barrels are shaped.

In the manufacture of barrels, first the straight staves are temporarilysecured into a substantially conical vessel converging toward one end:then the barrel is steamed so l0 as to allow the shaping of the staves,and the desired bulging of the middle portion of the cvlindrical vesselis accomplished by the windlass. after the staves are steamed. Beforethe hooping of the barrels` it is necessary to dry the true shapedbarrel so as to allow that provision be made. before the hooping. forthe usual shrinkage due to the evaporation of moisture from the woodenstaves of the barrel.

The primary obiect of the invention is the provision of an apparatus bvwhich a pluralitv of barrels maybe simultaneously treat ed. both in thesteaming and in the drying operati ons thereon: means being provided toco-ordinate the operation of the steaming and drvingelements of theapparatus.

Another obiect of the invention is the provision of a steaming anddrving apparatus for treating the barrels in which the time of steamingand drying is determined by the sneed and the nath of travel of thebarrels in the respective apparatus. the steaming` and drving elementsof which are simultaneouslv operated by an intermittent driving mechoanism.

nother ohicct of the invention is the provision of a drying apparatusfor barrels in which a drvino: substance is introduced bv means ofimpelling means. such as a blower. and is withdrawn bv the action of thesuction created at the intalre side of said impelling means thcrebvallowing not only the circulation of the drying substance through thedrying apparatus but also a recirculation of the spent drying substanceto intermix with the fresh drying substance.

A nother obiect of the invention is the provision of a drvinsr apparatusin which a compression chest and a suction chest are dis,-

chests are provided with complemental oriices, the circulation thru theorifices being accomplished by means of impelling means forcing adryingr substance, such as heated air, into the compression chest, whichair is withdrawn from the drying apparatus through the suction chest byreason of the connection of the suction chest to the intake side of theimpellinar means, thereby effecting great economy through therecirculation of the spent drying substance or heated air, in a mixturewith the fresh drying substance, or heated air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a steaming anddrying apparatus, in which the steaming and the drying elements aredisposed in operative relation to each other, each element beingprovided with a suitable conveying system to carry a plurality ofbarrels in succession from the respective barrel receiving opening tothe respective barrel discharge opening of each element, means beingprovided common to both elements for imparting aproperly timedintermittent movement to said conveyers, the drying element being soconnected to the steaming element that apart of the drying substance maybe used for heating the steam in the steaming element.

Other objects and advantages are to provide a steaming and dryingapparatus of the character described, that will be superior in point ofsimplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation,and facility and convenience in use and general eiiciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawings. the invention isillustratedin the form considered to be the best, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to such form, because itmay be embodied in other forms: and it is also to be understood that inand by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover theinvention in whatsoever form it maybe embodied.

l'n the accompanying two sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the steaming and drying apparatus` theconnection between the steaming and drying elements are shown brokenaway so as to indicate that the spacing between the elements may bevaried, in accordance with the requirements.

Fig.,2 is a sectional View of a drying element of the apparatus, thesection being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. The middle portion ofsaid element is broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the drying element, the section beingtaken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the heating chamber and the heated aircirculating mechanism, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the conveyer driving mechanism, the sectionof the driving sprocket being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the intermittent drivingsprocket of the conveyer driving mechanism, the section being taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, similar reference charactersdesignate similar parts throughout. The various figures described aboveadequately illustrate my invention and the following detaileddescription is commensurate with the above mentioned dra-Wings inenabling an artisan to construct and assemble the constituent parts ofthe same.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a steaming apparatus A, adrying apparatus B, each being provided with a conveying mechanism C,and a driving mechanism D for intermittently driving said conveyers in amanner hereinafter set forth.

The steaming apparatus A, and the drying apparatus B, are so disposed asto allow the use of a windlass between the two apparatus, so that thebarrel shaping operation may be cont-inuously performed, through thesteaming apparatus A, then on the windlass, not shown. and then throughthe drying apparatus B. The steaming of a barrel consists of passingsaid barrel through a steam filled chamber for a sufficient length 'oftime to prepare the staves thereof for the shaping thereof. Such a steamchamber is formed within a receptacle 7 which is provided with an innercasing 8 spaced from the outer walls of the receptacle 7 so as toprovide a chamber between the inner and outer walls into which a heatingsubstance may be introduced for further heating the walls of the steamchamber. The receptacle 7 is supported on the floor 9 above the usualpit 11, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. On the opposite sides of thereceptacle 7 and adjacent to the floor 9 are formed a barrel receivingopening 12 and a barrel discharge opening 13 disposed opposite eachother.

The conveying mechanism C is disposed Within the receptacle 7 inoperative relation to the openings 12 and 13. An upper shaft of theconveyer C is journaled in the front and rear Walls of the receptacle 7and extends Vacross the receptacle substantially in parallelism with thesides of the receptacle, in which sides the openings 12 and 13 arelocated; the shaft 14 is adjacent to the upper end of the receptacle 7and the opposite ends thereof extend outside of the said receptacle. Thelower shaft 16 of the conveyer C is journaled on bearing brackets 17,which brackets are supported on the floor 9 in the manner shown in Fig.2. The shafts 14 and 16 are parallel with each other and each has a pairof sprockets 18 spacedly disposed thereon. The respective sprockets onthe upper and lower shafts are in vertical alignment with each other andare connected by endless chains 19, thereby forming substantially adouble strand conveyer. On each endless chain 19 are attached carriers21 eX- tending from said chains toward each other.

The carriers 21 on each chain 19, are equally spaced and extend inregistry with each other. The carriers 21 are curved so as to conform toa section of the barrel periphery. It is to be noted that the oppositecarriers 21 are so spaced from each other that when a barrel is placedthereon, the ends of the barrel are supported on the opposite curvedcarriers 21. Intermittent movement is imparted to the conveyer C byrotating the upper shaft 14 thereof by the said driving mechanism D, ina manner to be hereinafter described in detail.

The receptacle 7 has suitable steam inlet openings thereon, not shown,so that a suitable moist atmosphere is maintained therein.

In operation the barrels 15 are introduced into the receptacle 7 throughthe barrel receiving opening 12 at a time when a set of carriers 2l isin alignment with the opening 12, then the usual movement of theconveyer C carries the barrel around the interior of the receptacle 7.The barrel is withdrawn through the discharge opening 13 aftercompleting its travel through the steam filled chamber in the receptacle7. Both the insertion and the removal of the barrel is accomplishedmanually. After the barrels are thus steamed, they are introduced intothe usual windlass machine by which the bulging shape of the barrel isformed and the staves are temporarily secured in said shape.

The finally shaped barrels are then introduced into the drying apparatusB, the receptacle 22 of which is identical in structure with thereceptacle 7 of the steaming apparatus. A conveying mechanism Cidentical with the conveyer mechanism C heretofore described, issupported within the receptacle 22 upon an upper shaft 23 and a lowershaft 24, the upper shaft being journaled in the front and rear walls ofthe reof the receptacle 22. At one end of said upper shaft 23 is atransmission sprocket- 26 which is connected by a transmission chain 27to a complemental transmission sprocket 28 upon the end of the shaft 14.The other end of the shaft 23 is directly driven by the saidintermittent drivin mechanism D. Thus, the conveyers C an C of thesteaming and drying apparatus respectively, are moved in synchronismwith each other.

The structure of the drying apparatus B differs from the structure ofthe steaming apparatus A merely by the addition of means to circulate adrying substance, in the present illustration, heated air, throughoutthe chamber within the receptacle 22. In order to provide heated dry airto the drying apparatus, a heating chamber 29 is constructed on one sideof the receptacle 22 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Above the heatingchamber 29 is a draft chamber 31 separated from said heating chamber bya partition 32 and communicating with said heating chamber through apassage 33 at the open end of the partition 32. Vithin the heatingchamber 29 is a suitable burner 34 to provide the required heat thereat.The air flows in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4, from theheating chamber 29 into the draft chamber 31. At the end of the draftchamber 31 farthest from the passage 33, is disposed the inlet 36 of ablower 37. The blower is operated in the usual manner and it sucks theair from the draft chamber 31.

In order to deliver the heated air into the receptacle 22, twocompression chests 38 and 39 are supported on brackets 41 on the innercasing of the receptacle 22. The compression chest 38 is opposite oneside of one of the double strand conveyers C', while the othercompression chamber 39 is opposite the other side of the other strand ofthe conveyer C.

The compression chests 38 and 39 are connected to each other by means ofa conduit 42. A suction chest 43 is supported on the receptacle 22 alongside the conveyer C and opposite the compression chest 38. Anothersuction chest 44 is supported on the receptacle 22 along side the otherstrand of the conveyer C opposite the compression chest 39. It is to benoted that the compression chest 38 and the suction chest 43 are inregistry with the position of the set of carriers 21 on one side of thereceptacle 22, while the compression chest 39 and the suction chest 44extend along side the set of carriers 21 adjacent to the other side ofthe receptacle 22. The suction chests 43 and 44 are connected to eachother by means of a conduit 46. The suction chest 44 is also connectedto an outlet 47 which opens in to the draft chamber 31 as at 48. Thus,the carriers 21 and the barrels 15 thereon, are carried past a set ofchests both in the upward and downward movement.

When the blower 37 is in operation, the heated air is passed into thecompression chests 38 and 39 through the cross connection 42. Thecompression chests 38 and 39 have orifices 49 thereon which are arrangedin pairs so that each pair of said orifices are spaced from each othersubstantially corresponding to the vertical spacing between the adjacentcarriers 21. The said orifices 49 are disposed on the sides of thecompression chests 38 and 39 adjacent to the conveyer C. On the innerfaces of the suction chests 43 and 44 are formed orifices 51complemental and opposite to the orifices 49. The compression created inthe' compression chests 38 and 39 forces the heated air out of saidchests and into the interior of the receptacle 22. The circulation ofthe heated air is accomplished by the withdrawal of the spent air fromthe interior of the receptacle 22 through the oriices 51 and suctionchests 43 and 44 by reason of the suction created by the heated airpassing the opening 48 of the outlet 47 The flow of heated air throughthe draft chamber 31 and to the inlet 36 of the blower'37 acts at theopening 48 similarly to an ejector, creating suction thereat, therebyforming the suction in the suction chest 44, conduit 46 and suctionchest 43. The suction thus created draws the spent air out of theinterior of the receptacle 22, thereby causing the circulation of theair in said receptacle.

The spent air withdrawn through the outlet 47 and at the opening 48. iscarried by the suction to the inlet 36 of the blower 37 and isreintroduced into the compression chests 38 and 39 in a mixture with theheated air which was drawn by the blower 37 from the heating chamber 29.It is apparent that the spent air in the receptacle 22 still contains acertain amount of heat and capacity to absorb or evaporate moisture fromthe barrels 15, and this is fully utilized by the partial reheating andthe reintroduction of the spent air by and with the fresh, heated airentering through the draft chamber 31. The circulation of the heated airand the recirculation of the spent air, efficiently accomplishes thedrying of the barrels 15 carried through the receptacle 22 by theconveyer C', and the waste of heat is reduced to a minimum. The

barrels 15 are manually. introduced into the receptacle 22 through theinlet opening 12 thereof, and are withdrawn through theoutlet ordischarge opening 13 thereof, formed in an identical position with theinlet opening 12 and 4discharge opening 13 of the receptacle 7.

The driving mechanism D imparts movement to the upper shaft 23 of theconveyer C', which movement is transmitted in the manner heretofore setforth to the conveyer C.

The driving mechanism D comprises an electric motor 52 supported on astandard 53 on the outside of the receptacle 22. A double sprocket 54 iskeyed to the free end of the shaft of the motor 52 and it drives adouble strand transmission chain 56. The 'two strands of the chains 56are in parallel with each other and are uided over an idler 57 mountedon the outside of the receptacle 22. On the end of the shaft 23extending in the direction of the motor 52, is keyed the hub 58 of acircular disk 59. Sprocket disks 61 are rotatably disposed on theopposite recessed ends of the hub 58 and are prevented from outwardlateral movement by retaining disks 62,` which retaining disks aresecured upon the shaft 23. The sprocket disks 61 are spaced from eachother so as to correspond to the spacing of the doublesprocket 54, and

the double strand chain transmission 56 is disposed over the teeth ofthe sprocket disks 61 in the usual manner. The rotation of the sprocket54, therefore will cause the rotation of the sprocket disks 61relatively to the central disk 59 on the hub 58, without actuallytransmitting any rotation to the shaft 23. It is to be noted, viewingFig. 6, that the central disks 59 has a thickness substantially lessthan the clearance between the inside faces of the sprocket disks 61.Therefore, there is a clearance between the faces of the central disk 59and thev inside faces of the respective sprocket disks 61. Upon theopposite faces of the central disk 59 are ,disposed three pairs ofcatchplates 63. It is to be noted that the diameter of the central circulardisk 59 is substantially smaller than the root lines of the gears of thesprocket disks 61, but the catch plates 63 extend radially beyond theouter circumference of the central disk 59. The upper corners of thecatch plates 63 have an arcuate cut-away portion 64 opposite to thedirection of rotation of the sprocket disk 61. On the chain 56 ismounted a dog 66 in the form of a roller extending between the oppositestrands of the chain 56 and being rotatable on a pin 67 extendingthrough both strands of the chain 56. While the chain 56 is driven bythe sprocket 54, the said dog 64 travels around with the chain. When thedog 66 is brought into the position shown in Fig. 5, then it abutsagainst the cut-away corners 64 of the respective catch plates 63 andturns the same with the movement of the sprocket disk 61. After therespective catch plates 63 are turned by the movement of the dog 66,approximately 120, the dog is permitted to release the catch plate 63,thereby stopping the movement of the central disk 59 with the sprocketdisk 61. The central disk 59 remains stationary while the dog 66 iscarried around with the chain in the usual manner and until it isbrought again into the position shown in Fig. 5. Inasmuch as there arethree catch plates 63, ar-

ranged radially and 120 apart, the turning of one of said catch plates120 will bring the successive catch plate 63 in operative position.

The function of the idler 59 is to hold the plates in such a positionthat the dog 66 cannot by any means be brought into engagement with anyother pair of catch plates but the pair of catch plates extendingupwardly from the disk 59. When the disk 59 is rotated it will cause therotation of the upper conveyer shaft 23 due to the keyed engagement ofthe hub 58 thereof with said shaft 23. Thus an intermittent movement ofthe conveyer is accomplished which is transmitted from the conveyer C tothe conveyer C in the manner heretofore set forth. The driving mechanismis so proportioned in the present illustration, that the conveyer ismoved four seconds and is at a standstill for twenty seconds, betweentwo movements thereof.

In operation the barrel 15 is manually inserted in the steamingapparatus A and is carried around the interior thereof whereby thestaves of the barrel are prepared for the shaping operation in thewindlass. The barrels 15 are withdrawn when they reach a positionopposite the discharge opening 13.

After the barrel is shaped it is introduced to the respective opening 12into the drying apparatus B and is carried around the interior thereofby the conveyer C', and when it reaches a position opposite thedischarge opening 13', it is Withdrawn therefrom. During the travel ofthe barrel within the drying apparatus B, the circulation andrecirculation of the heat-ed air, as heretofore set forth, accomplishesthe drying of the said barrel so as to prepare the same for the hooping,which is accomplished by another machine, not shown.

It will be recognized that a particularly facile and eicient apparatusis provided to accomplish the steaming and drying of the barrels beforeand after the shaping thereof, which apparatus is especially adapted tobe used in connection with mass production of barrels; the timing of thesteaming and the drying is readily determined by the adjustment of thedriving speed and the design of the intermittent movement of theconveyers so that it will be suitable for the purpose set forth. Thedevice is unitary in character; it does not require any careful settingup or adjustment. and the only manual operation connected therewith isthe insertion and the withdrawal of the barrels from the respectivereceptacles, therefore, the device is particularly adapted for its useand it may be efficiently operated by the labor ordinarily available.

The drying chamber of the receptacle B is connected to the heatingchamber formed between the outer and inner Walls of the receptacle A bymeans of a conduit 68, whereby heated airis transmitted into the heatingc amber of the receptacle B, which may be suitably exhausted thru thestacks 69. Thus part of the heated air of the drying apparatus isutilized to heat the inner walls 8 of the steaming chamber A, therebymaintaining the steam therein at a desired temperature.

Having thus ,described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a dryingreceptacle, means'to carry barrels through said drying receptacle on acircuitous path of travel, and means to circulate heated air throughsaid drying receptacle and to withdraw the spent air from the dryingreceptacle so as to recirculate the same with the fresh heated air, saidair circulating means comprising oppositely disposed compression andsuction chests arranged directly adjacent opposite ends of the barrelsand having orifices therein registering with the barrel ends, means toimpel the heated air into the compression chest, said suction chestbeing in communication with the intake side of the impelling means so asto allow the withdrawal of the spent air from the receptacle by thesuction created thereat and to allow the recirculation of said spent airthrough said impelling means.

2. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a dryingreceptacle, means to carry barrels through said drying receptacle on acircuitous path of travel, means to circulate heated air through saiddrying receptacle and to withdraw the spent air from the dryingreceptacle so as to recirculate the same with the fresh heated air, saidair circulating means comprising oppositely disposed compression andsuction chests arranged directly adjacent opposite ends of the barrelsand having orifices therein registering with the barrel ends, means toimpel the heated air into the compression chest, said suction chestbeing in communication with the intake side of the impelling means so asto allow the withdrawal of the spent air from the receptacle by thesuction created thereat and to allow the recirculation of said spent airthrough said impelling means; and means to impart to said carrying meansan intermittent movement.

3. An apparatus for treating barrels comprising a drying receptaclehaving a barrel receiving opening and a -barrel discharge openingthereon; means in said drying receptacle to carry the barrels from thereceiving to the discharge opening of the drying receptacle; acompression chest; a suction chest, said chests being disposed tocommunicate with opposite sides of the barrels axially thereof anddischarge heated air into the barrels longitudinally thereof and exhaustthe air from the barrels in said drying receptacle; an air heaterrelated to said drying receptacle; means to impel the air from the airheater into the compression chest, said chests having complementalorifices thereon to discharge heated air into and exhaust heated airfrom the barrels, said suction chest being connected to the intake sideof said impelling means so as to allow the withdrawal of the spent airfrom the drying receptacle by the suction of said impelling means and torecirculate the spent air in mixture with the heated air.

4. An apparatus for treating barrels comprising a drying receptaclehaving a barrel receiving and a barrel outlet opening thereon; aconveyer in said receptacle for carrying the barrels around the interiorof the receptacles from the receiving opening to the outlet openingthereof; means to impart intermittent movement to the conveyer; meansdisposed on the opposite sides of the conveyer in the drying receptaclehaving openings in communication with open ends of the barrelssubstantially axially thereof for circulating heated air lengthwisethrough the barrels passing thru the receptacle; and means to impelheated air into said circulating means, said circulating means beingconnected to the intake side of the impelling means so as to allow therecirculation of the spent air from the drying receptacle.

5. An apparatus for treating barrels comprising a drying receptaclehaving a barrel receiving and a barrel outlet opening thereon; aconveyer in said receptacle for carrying the barrels around the interiorof the receptacle from the receiving opening to the outlet openingthereof; means to impart intermittent movement to the conveyer; acompression chest on one side of the conveyer'n the drying receptacle; asuction chest on the other side of said drying conveyer and oppositesaid compression chest, said chests having complemental orifices thereonto register with open ends of the barrels substantially axially thereofwhen the barrels are stationary for the passage of heated airtherethrough; and means to impel heated air into said compression chest,said suction chest being connected to the intake side of said impellingmeans so as to withdraw the spent air from the suction chest andrecirculate the same.

6. An apparatus for treating barrels comprising a drying receptaclehaving a barrel receiving and a barrel outlet opening thereon; aconveyer in said receptacle for carrying the barrels around the interiorof the receptacle from the receiving opening to the outlet openingthereof; means to impart intermittent movement to the conveyer; acompression chest on one side of the conveyer in the drying receptacle;a suction chest on the other side of said drying conveyer and oppositesaid compression chest; said chests having complemental orifices thereondisposed axially of the barrels when the barrels are stationary for theassage of heated air therethrough; said ori ces being in registry withthe barrel ends, means to im el heated air into said compression chest,sai suction chest being connected to the intake side of said ime lingmeans so as to withdraw the spent air rom the suction chest andrecirculate the same; and carriers on said conveyers being 10 arcuate toconform to a section of the outer periphery of the barrels. 7. A dryingapparatus comprising a receptacle having a receiving and an outletopening thereon for the passage of the object to b e dried; a conveyerin said receptacle for countermoving parallel rows of the objects to bedried around the interior of the receptacle, from the receiving to theoutlet opening with the objects disposed transversely of the receptacle;a compression chest supported adjacent one side of each row of saidobjects; a suction chest supported adjacent theother side of each row ofsaid objects, said chests having opposed complemental orifices thereonz5 dis osed axially of the objects for the passage of lieated air intoand from objects carried on the conveyer; a heating chamber in operativerelation to said receptacle; and means 4 connected between the airheating chamber a0 and the compression chest to impel heated air intosaid compression chest, said suction chest being connected to the intakeside of said impelling means for eiecting the withdrawal of the spentair from the receptacle and the recirculating of the same in a mixturewith the heated air sucked from the heating chamber.`

8. A drying apparatus comprising a receptacle having a receiving and anoutlet opening thereon for the passage of the object to be drled; aconveyer in said receptacle for countermoving parallel rows of theobjects to be dried around the interior of the receptacle from thereceiving to the outlet opening; a compression chest supported adjacentone side of the conveyor; a suction chest supported adjacent the otherside of the conveyer, said chests having complemental orices thereon forthe passage of heated air into 50 and from objects carried on` theconveyor; a heating chamber in operative relation to said receptacle; anoutlet passage leading from the chamber; means connectedl to said outletpassage and to the compression chest to impel heated air into saidcompression chest; and an outlet connection on said suction chestcommunicating with said outlet passage for effecting the withdrawal ofspent air through said suction chest by the suction created in saidoutlet passage, said spent air being mixed thereat with the heated airand being recirculated by said impeller.

9. An apparatus for heating barrels hav-l ing, in combination, a closedcasing; means 35 to counter-move two rows of barrels parallelly thru thecasing; a pair of ducts in the casing diagonally opposite each otherhaving a plurality of dischar e openings for directing streams of driedIieated gases into one end of the barrels, the stream of gases beingdirected thru one row of barrels in an opposite direction to the streamof gases directed thru the other row of barrels; a pair of ducts in thecasing, arranged diagonally opposite each other, having inlet openingsto exhaust moisture laden gases from the other end of the barrels; andmeans to supply dried heated gases to the ducts.

10. An apparatus for heating barrels having, in combination, a closedcasing; means to counter-move two rows of barrels parallelly thru thecasing; a pair of ducts in the casing diagonally opposite each otherhaving a plurality of discharge openings for directing streams of driedheated gases into one end of the barrels, the stream of gases beingdirected thru one row of barrels in an opposite direction to the streamof gases directed thru the other row of barrels; a pair of ducts in thecasing, arranged diagonally opposite each other, having inlet openingsto exhaust moisture laden gases from the other end of the barrels; meansto effect an'intermittent movement of the rows of barrels to registerthe barrels with the duct ports; and means to supply dried heated gasesto the ducts.

11. An apparatus for heating barrels having, in combination, a closedcasing; means to counter-move two rows of barrels parallelly thru thecasing; a pair of ducts in the casing diagonally opposite each otherhaving a plurality of discharge openings for directing streams of driedheated gases into one end of the barrels, the stream of gases beingdirected thru one row of barrels in an op osite direct-ion to the streamof gases directed) thru the other row of barrels; a pair of ducts in thecasing, arranged diagonally opposite each other having inlet openings toexhaust moisture laden gases from the other end of the barrels; means tosupply dried heated gases to the ducts; and means to circulate themoist-ure laden gases from the exhausting ducts thru a reheating drierpreparatory to returning the gases to the ducts from which the heatedgases are discharged into the barrels. In testimon whereof, I havehereunto set my hand at an Francisco, California, this 29th day ofAugust, 1929.

FRANCIS C. WILLIAMS.

